At $99.99 SOUL’s ST-XS True Wireless Earphones are yet another option for those who want “wireless wireless” headphones but don’t want to opt for Apple’s AirPods. The ST-XS lack the “tail” of Apple’s offering, but they are large enough that they won’t disappear into your ears when you wear them. Is saving $60 compared to the AirPods worth it? Maybe…

“Live without wires. ST-XS not only giving you the lifestyle without wires but also creating a compact and stylish earphone to spice up your everyday look.”

That’s how SOUL is marketing the ST-XS.

In the box, you get the earpieces, a protective charging box, a USB charging cable, different sized ear gels and some information. The earpieces and charging box weigh 49 grams with each earpiece weighing in at just 4 grams. The Charging box measures 75mm x 33mm x 32mm. Each earphone measures 20mm x 16mm x 24mm. Both are made from a mixture of matt and glossy black plastic.

The left earphone is the “master.” It auto-pairs with your device the first time you turn it on. After a few seconds, you will then hear “Second device connected” and the right earphone will connect to the left.

The flat part of each earphone has a small circle with the letter “S” in the center. A small hole just below each “S” is the microphone. The ST-XS don’t have any visual controls but the circle with the “S” is actually a multifunction button. The controls layout this way…

There’s a learning curve to understand hot the earphones work, but it wasn’t difficult to become familiar enough with them.

The ST-XS are comfortable. I worried that, without ear hooks or some other method of fixing them in place, they would be unstable but I haven’t had any issue with them staying in my ears.

Battery life is pretty much what you might expect from something this small. Ear earphone will get up to 2.5 hours per charge. (This will, of course, depend on the volume and content being played.) The charging box can recharge the earphones up to four times. That’s enough payback for pretty much any full day on-the-go.

In addition, the ST-XS have an iPX4 rating so they are sweat resistant and can put up with a sudden downpour like the one that my dog Nava and I just got caught in earlier today.

As for sound… the ST-XS are pretty good. Inside each earphone is a 6mm driver that gets plenty loud. I have been using them while out walking with Nava and have been pleased. Still, I don’t think I would want these as my only earphones since, while they sound good, they don’t have a ton of depth or bass. That’s not a serious knock on the ST-XS but I’ve been spoiled by some of the premium headphones I have reviewed and these, while certainly good, don’t rise to the top of the pack.

On the other hand, I’ve had zero connectivity issues with the ST-XS. They only have a range of 33 feet but so long as you are close to the audio source they don’t drop the connection to each other or to the audio source. That’s a bit deal and something worth keeping in mind if you are looking for a pair of “wireless wireless” earphones.

Features:

SOUL SIGNATURE QUALITY SOUND: Two powerful 6mm dynamic neodymium drivers are designed to deliver the SOUL’s signature sound of balanced deep low bass without sacrificing the clarity of the mids and highs

COMPACT AND SLEEK DESIGN FOR CUSTOM FIT: No more bulky earphones, each earpiece of ST-XS only weight 4g, it is compact and sleek, securely fitted in your ears

AUTO PAIRING FUNCTION: No more hassle when pairing up your wireless earphones! Simply take the ST-XS out of the charging box and connect with your smartphone, and you are ready to go in just a sec.

PORTABLE CHARGING BOX: Came with a small portable charging box, allows you to recharge your ST-XS for 4-time, keeps you moving up to 10-hour

BATTERY LIFE (Talk or Music time): Up to 2.5hrs playback (Varies by volume level and content), Up to 10hrs on the go (4 times recharge)

The SOUL ST-XS are a good alternative to Apple’s AirPods. They are $60 less, don’t have the telltale white “tail” of the AirPods. Raina thinks they look a bit silly but when I asked her if they are worse than the AirPod tails she said, “No, these are certainly better.” Still, the Rowkin earphones I reviewed actually disappear into your ear. At an MSRP of $99, and I have seen discounts on them already, they are an affordable way to cut the cord … twice. Check them out here.

About the Author

Having a father who was heavily involved in early laser and fiber-optical research, Dan grew up surrounded by technology and gadgets. Dan’s father brought home one of the very first video games when he was young and Dan remembers seeing a “pre-release” touchtone phone. (When he asked his father what the “#” and “*” buttons were his dad said, “Some day, far in the future, we’ll have some use for them.”)
Technology seemed to be in Dan’s blood but at some point he took a different path and ended up in the clergy. His passion for technology and gadgets never left him.
Dan is married to Raina Goldberg who is also an avid user of Apple products. They live in New Jersey with their golden doodle Nava.

Smile Pronto launched Smile Club, a new oral healthcare subscription kit that’s designed to deliver a complete ecosystem of oral care products straight to your door. The tri-monthly delivery can include items like Flosstime, a special toothbrush, and “smart mints” that are designed to enhance breath and clean teeth at the same time. Start your subscription for $31.

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Smile Pronto launched Smile Club, a new oral healthcare subscription kit that’s designed to deliver a complete ecosystem of oral care products straight to your door. The tri-monthly delivery can include items like Flosstime, a special toothbrush, and “smart mints” that are designed to enhance breath and clean teeth at the same time. Start your subscription for $31.